Galt's Gulch

Site Enhancement: Recommended Literature

Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago to The Gulch: Feature Requests
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I think a recommended literature enhancement would be very cool. The topic of each post would always be the name of the publication and its and author(s), and the poster would remain anonymous. Anyone could post, and no points would be awarded to the poster. A thumbs up or thumbs down would mean "liked it/relevant", "didn't like it/irrelevant". Again, no points awarded or taken from the poster.

Comments would be divided into 2 groups. One group would be for recommendations by folks who have read it to folks who have not (non-spoilers). The second group would be for those that have read it and would like to discuss it.

Points would be awarded as normal in both groups.

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  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 11 years, 3 months ago
    For my part, "Starship Troopers' (the original, not taken from the screenplay) and 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress'; Allen Drury's "Advise and Consent' series; Glenn Beck's 'Control', 'The Overton Window' and 'Eye of Moloch'; Vaughn Heppner's 'Invasion' series. But then, I'm no genius.
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    • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
      Thank you for your recommendations. I've seen the second Heinlein book mentioned here more than once. Stranger was required reading a bit too soon for me, and while the first half was fun at the time, I didn't appreciate the rest for what it was intended to be. Turned me off to Heinlein. Double thanks for pointing out a long-standing unconscious bias. I may need to re-read Stranger to do some unconscious garbage collection.
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      • Posted by $ johnrobert2 11 years, 3 months ago
        "Thou art god" was a bit much for me. I don't know if it struck you the same way. All in all, Stranger was okay but the other two are , to me, much more congruent to what is being discussed.
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        • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
          Funny, I was reading the Wikipedia entry and found this juicy little tidbit:

          "When Jubal tries to explain religion to him, Smith understands the concept of God only as "one who groks", which includes every extant organism."

          I was definely too young to get that. I, to this day, use the word "grok" in everyday language to mean "complete understanding" or well formulated epistemology. In that context, it might actually have some relevance here, but I don't think I'll be making a post on that any time in the foreseeable future.

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  • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
    I thought this was a good idea... Particularly dividing the comments between spoilers and recommendations. I find winterwind's post, "Top 10 Books....", to be relevant.
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  • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
    Examples:
    1. Fiction: Wool, Hugh Howey
    2. Nonfiction: The Logical Leap: Induction in Physics, David Harriman
    3. Fiction: Inferno, Dan Brown
    4. Nonfiction: Philosophy: Who Needs It, Ayn Rand

    Etc.

    The points would be for or against the book, not the poster, and there would be a separate list of books ranked by votes from members within the Gulch. Obviously Atlas Shrugged would be on top.
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    • Posted by khalling 11 years, 3 months ago
      well I have read choice 4, and 2 is on the list, but Dan Brown is a wild card. I really loved angels and Demons. sigh. I'll tackle Inferno if you really want me to.
      What's Wool about?
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      • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
        Don't tackle Inferno on my behalf. You will not regret the read by the end. I can't say more.

        I really can't say much about Wool without revealing plot. It is science fiction, but quite novel. It is set in the future. It is an extremely depressing read to begin with, but by the end, well, I can't say. I would say, however, go into it blind for an optimal experience. Get a second opinion from someone who knows you better, but make sure they don't give you any plot details.

        Just to be clear, 1-4 wasn't order of preference or anything... it was simply the order in which they came to mind.
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    • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 11 years, 3 months ago
      I already posted a review and link to THE LOGICAL LEAP a month ago under Philosophy. No takers. That speaks volumes.
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      • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
        Wish I'd been here a month ago. I just read your review. I must admit that many of your points require more investigation on my part.

        I agree with your summation.

        "While these shortcomings are bothersome, they are not fatal. Harriman’s thesis deserves more than mere consideration. Properly taught, it would be a revolution in science. Rather than trying to replace the accepted meaning of the inductive method, Harriman should simply call his the objective (or Objectivist) method."
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago
    I wouldn't ask so much from the sites programmers. It's beyond the purpose of the site. People can post to literature if they want to discuss books.
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  • Posted by Zenphamy 11 years, 2 months ago
    For libertarian/objectivist: An Enemy of the State by F. Paul Wilson. There are three others within the series; The Lagrange Chronicles; Wheels with Wheels, The Terry, The Healer

    Interest in reality vs conjecture: The Static Universe by Hilton Ratcliffe

    For fun: Anything by Patrick F McManus

    Nothing further tonight. Thanks for the idea.
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  • Posted by khalling 11 years, 3 months ago
    why would the poster be anonymous? I take recommendations all time. but I do assess the recommender. Objective analyst started such a post. You can add your choices to his...
    and as MM said, there is a books category. Did you want to recommend "Pendulum of Justice?" lol
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    • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
      I told you I just ordered my Kindle dammit! I can't start reading it until Tuesday or Wednesday.

      The poster should be anonymous so that when someone recommends Harry Potter they don't get dinged out of existence. I cringe at the thought of admitting that I enjoyed J. K. Rowling's Potter books here (oof, and yet I just did).
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      • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
        Might as well admit that I watched all the Harry Potter movies too. One of my favorite scenes is where Snape calls Hermione an insufferable know-it-all. Honestly, she's my favorite character in the books and movies. It's just like the Gulch really. All of my favorites are insufferable know-it-alls (myself included).
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      • Posted by khalling 11 years, 3 months ago
        I love Harry Potter. you're going to have to let go of the point thingy. I'll catch you
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        • Posted by Wonky 11 years, 3 months ago
          Grr. Ok, it's a bad idea to seek a consensus reading list in the Gulch. What would you recommend that I read after "Pendulum of Justice"? I'm currently reading Donna Andrews murder mysteries for some odd reason (well, maybe my wife brainwashed me).
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          • Posted by khalling 11 years, 3 months ago
            well first you have to give Pendulum a review. But consider giving us a book review on one of the titles you've listed. Just tell us if you're going to discuss spoilers. I'm interested in Wool. I'd like to know about it from someone in here. I do not usually get into science fiction much. I did just finish AJs sci-fi novel, Shadows Under Seashells. You should also check out Wdonway's Lailly Worm and The Price of Hannah Blake, overmanwarrior's books, Tail of the Dragon(not on Kindle yet) and Symposium of Justice. We have several authors in here.
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